I May twenty first twenty thirteen will now take place with Mayor time to Ronnie
residing and the meeting will start with the invocation by Pastor Ernest Caldwell
from the Marcel Church of God in Christ at one fifty nine and
a half California Joliet. Is by the place
on May we span it. Out I have finished pray out and we would do the
players do
a legend of the United States flag Father we thank you they call we realize that
you are God and besides you bear us no whether we pray for this break city of
Joliet we pray for the marrow and I and all of those that I work in will
go out we pray for the citizens of Joliet we pray for unity and not
division and we pray for help that it might be your divine help that would help us
but we need help now God we pray now that you might each and every one gill wills
them and knowledge to the people we have to in Jesus' name we pray a man and
a man. That of our space the players to imagine
I know that just
a little. Bit about America and the Republican war which it's time that
one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
And start with right here. On from here on from here when
you're here and I want to hear from here that are here first and ten or
twelve minutes from their most not the minutes of
a special meeting of the council meeting so moved. The minutes of the.
Council meeting held on May twentieth twenty thirteen in the regular meeting held
on May twenty first twenty thirteen recorded.
In
a. Near drowning. Next
council committee reports communication technology and information systems Well we
met the same afternoon just before the council meeting and. I would like to read
something out here we talked about the fiber optics for our downtown Joliet through
the. Green with me and I am we look at
this further and it's
a footprint that we're going to look at the entire city footprint within the county
. And it's going to be
a driver for economic development it's really going to happen satisfy the demand
for high speed. Networking with our computers and everything. And it be the
roadmap for public interest and networking the cost is eight thousand dollars and.
This is what they were going to look at and the entire city because I know
councilman McParland. Make sure that it was throughout the city and that's what
they're going to look at it will be
a cost of eight thousand dollars but it will come out of the general fund. And its
course as an intergovernmental agreement and which like anything.
Else from one side it's actually. Going to be
a road map letting us know about the feasibility of expanding our fiber optic which
would help such things as the. Right businesses county offices would all benefit
from it if it's feasible and when I can start to the council anyone can get
a copy if they'd like are the issues the benefits. With you. But for the fiber
optic network so basically the pros and the cat now not so many cars are basically
pros and what's going to bring to our city and we voted to approve it and it's on
the council Public Service Committee report. Of the public service
committee is comprised of council Berber comes with federal myself in the planning
conference room last evening prior to the we can also review the change order
or past missed contracts fine while being or recommended approval we did table the
one. Tract. Payment Merkins until for two weeks for.
Other reports we did have a request for
a speaker tonight. With
me so. I thank you the.
City council members
a city staff. I bring you greetings from the forest community center
and the reason I stand before you tonight is to thank you personally
for the support and all of the help that you have given the Forest
Park Community Center I would like the expansion thank Chief Trafton and the Joliet
police department. Their efforts in our area is giving us safe
passage on June tenth and we will be starting our summer camp and
we will be having academic enrichment recreation all writing.
For our youth in that area we are so delighted to have
a neighborhood policing team thank you. And everything is going great
the other reason that I'm here is because of this council. I just really want to
say thank you. I'm here to say thank you so
much you heard our need for the summer program and through your generous
donation we are able to provide trees just slides every day from June
and that's the first for our children so we thank you so much for that
thank you for city staff the support that we get from you guys is just absolutely
amazing and you. Know that you get you really go dancing you promise.
But I certainly want to thank you sir to kick off our summer camp. You have
provided us with tickets and the use of cities to raise to take the kids to the
baseball game on the thirteenth so we certainly want to thank you for that staff
the board of directors the community of Forest Park I would love to say thank you
you're welcome and it comes from the whole Council not just for me. I just do
.
It's because. I'm my name is
Jennifer grammer I live at ten nineteen Nicholson Street in Joliet motion to speak
like
a favor. Mr Mayor and City Council thank you for allowing me the opportunity
on an issue that I feel is important to bring to your attention there has been some
talk going on by some local groups to try and introduce an ordinance that will
allow them to raise chickens within this Joliet city limits. We currently have
chickens walking around our area which is the North Broadway area also there have
been chicken sightings in the St Pat's area. St various areas on the east side of
Joliet and also walking on black road and Midland Avenue we do not think that this
is good for the city or the residents of Joliet for several reasons first it
presents
a health hazard second the city has no extra money to make sure this type of
citizen forced the amount of check and third this opens the doors to other types of
animals such as goats rabbits ducks pigs turkeys etc being raised at local
residents and my personal experience the chickens in my area are generating
a foul odor that can be smelled half
a block away the waste to spread out into the alley and going in Tiaras where
children like St Pat's St John's and Cunningham associations are asking you to
please review the current ordinance regarding individuals keeping these kinds of
animals within the city limits we have petitions from various spots around these
areas asking that chickens not be allowed inside city limits and we are getting
a lot more petitions signed. Thank you Mayor for our city council our
police chief and his staff of officers. And his staff
and the other workers throughout Juliet's and our city manager who make a Joliet
a great place to thank you thank you I don't know who to ask you know.
We got
a lot of calls about chickens running. Career I don't believe we have. Will Follow
up in work with Jennifer on making sure that the residents of her area and other
areas are aware of the ordinance that. There yes I mean I ten of the Cathedral
as well as cons not far away because my daughter Kirk and there was
a lady there Mrs large talking about cheese lady proposing this but she told us
the chicken they want an ordinance they were allowed to allow to allow chickens.
And she said that Kendall jack son told her that he was already working on
a plan for this is that and I said I haven't heard of that so. There's that sort of
I don't think so no I and actually I know that we had this issue come up last year
and Jim Heller in Kendal to look into what other communities are doing so we were
ready in case there was
a request to go that direction I think our recommendation would have been not to
proceed with an ordinance that would have allowed live chickens to be raised in
backyards we have
a lot of smaller lots in the community and when I've looked at some of the
organises from other communities or is a requirement in
a lot of our lots would meet their requirements so you know I think in certain
towns it may work but in ours it seems like it wouldn't work and I'm sure that was
what he was referencing was the research we did last year into suppression of this
issue Primus and I think so I don't think there's I can assure you there will not
be
a recommendation from the staff saying let's go with an ordinance that allows chickens
in the backyard that's my. Understanding
is an example isn't and one of the details is
a thirty foot setback from any permanent structure which are all that eliminated
the vast majority of buildings and. Yes that's what we looked at last year was what
most doing because this was a very part it still is
a popular issue and I know it's part of the urban farming movement but certainly
supportive and farms and we help some organizations out with. Growing things but
chickens pose
a different issue and I think just considering that how many forty foot lots we
haven't found sixty four lots it's going to be difficult to have
a reasonable setback for raising the chickens that's on the started
how do we police that if if in fact we allow an affiliation with one of the staff.
Thank you guys one question if someone has
a neighbor chicken. They call the police if someone sees say the
chickens
a black and white world walk and they call animal control they call Julia township
. I think you know why don't we start with our planning department start with seven
to four four zero four zero and let Jim Heller and his staff. Deal with it at an
administrative level first if we need to involve the police department will
certainly do that and then if we need to make
a called Animal Control will do that too. OK thank you thank you which are
the. Reports. That proposed city council housing authority committee has
recommended the approach so moved. Comments just
one year on right. Calls from the occur today and caucus afternoon but he was busy
I was busy at work and couldn't talk but. You know I mean I have no problem with
the committee but you know I think we heard from the Housing Authority last night
and what the problems were and how they're remedy and I'd like to see forward to
a committee to give them
a chance to see what they are proposing to solutions for the objections of
hardhead and see what grade they get and when they get there then decide if we need
this committee and that's just. As
a result of what we heard last night. I'm.
Saying But actually if nothing else last night's meeting the committee that kind of
a presentation and presentation is what we do with it whether it's the baseball
committee the finance committee so I don't think we should hesitate to put the
committee together because going forward that will be
a preventative oversight so that we don't get ourselves in
a bind again. Just for the record meetings are open to the public.
When the time you want to attend
a meeting you're more than welcome to oversee what's going. On
they really didn't ask questions and since you're the chairman of the board what do
you feel about all this and how Mr Sampson you know his presence
just like your plan. That sometimes.
You do your.
Duty that I come before I got out here for everybody else to I've got
a problem there now if it's feasible for me to do I think Michael Simon lived at
a very good job.
Not the Oversight Committee do you think.
We can talk about. We've got to.
Get
a job to do the job and. I just think that. If I. Can
get along with everybody.
Else I dislike some clarification. From either staff or our from the mayor it was
mentioned in one Council prior to me taking my seat here that we were
basically having the staff member oversee the operations of the housing authority
to make sure that agreement is being executed and my conversation with the few of
the board members last evening and Mr Sam within there hasn't been anybody really
over there working with them making sure we're executing this agreement I just want
to have some clarification on the record and whether now we are actually having
somebody. There overseeing the the agreement that the council approved but remember
the council. Had one meeting with officials from the housing authority when the
letter first came I did not ask Ken to follow up with additional meetings after
that so we've not had
a continuous presence over there I know going back about twenty years ago Mr Fraser
was actually assigned to be the I believe the interim director at one point and we
provided full staffing at it while they were in
a transition between executive directors but we haven't gotten to that point yet I
think we offered our services if they need anything but I haven't really followed
up with them to ask if they need us there on
a regular basis thank you but you know.
Yeah I mean based on the presentation that I heard last night I think it's probably
a pretty good idea that we use the word psych committee so. That's been.
I mean this is
a little late to give the board of and so I don't remember hearing. Chairman
barber's comments on.
The motion carried. It was removed.
From the. Twenty six day
a resolution appropriating funds for the. Control application for the engineering
for the Washington Street over Spring Creek improvement project it is recommended
and be adopted.
By.
Objection.
Representative. For the American Cancer Society. With landmark
a. Proclamation
before I read it this is for Relay for Life which is
a flawed reason for cancer. Thank you for all the work that you're doing my father
passed away from cancer so my family knows firsthand you know what this disease can
do without it touches. Proclamation Where is Relay for Life is
a signature fundraising event for the American cancer society that celebrates
cancer survivors anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer remembers loved ones
lost to the disease where is the American Cancer Society Relay for Life brings the
community together to take up the fight against cancer whereas money raised during
the Relay for Life of Jolie It helps support research patient services education
advocacy where it's really for life helps fund more than one hundred million in
cancer research each year and
a total more than three point eight billion dollars has been investing cancer
research since one nine hundred forty six No Therefore I Thomas you're on the mayor
of the city of Joliet I'm here for the job at city council do hereby proclaim the
month of June two thousand and thirteen is really for life days in Joliet and
encourage everyone to participate in the Relay for Life of Jolie had it to Haiti I
feel the joy of
a moral stadium June fifteenth two thousand and thirteen two thousand and thirteen
sign Thomas right to marry them.
And I go first Mayor I want to again thank the city council mayor Tom Dirani for
a continued support I was up here I think thirteen years ago when we took Joliet
from
a small relay to one of the largest in the state and thanks to the city's continued
help along with the next media and enjoy it Harold knows Joliet really is not one
of the top twenty in the state and last year we passed
a two million dollar mark raised in the Joliet Relay for Life So again thank you we
want to thank our sponsors it's a great event Kevin's going to tell you
a little bit more about it but remember it's open to everybody come on out come out
and walk the first lap with Mayor Giuliani at two o'clock we kick it off but thank
you for your continued support and all that the survivors and the people who we
lost to cancer with thank you we are making gains and at two million dollars from
the Julia residence that and all the people who participated we're making small
gains and hopefully someday our grandkids or our kids won't have to hear those
nasty words that you know you have cancer so thank you once again thank you very
much for all of your exit point Mr Mayor like Glen said you know really enjoy it as
one of the top twenty five in the state of Illinois and it started out small and
it's grown very big so we like to keep it that way and we appreciate all the
support from our sponsors and all of you here tonight really for life it is really
a community of and if you've never been to really before I like to describe it as
a carnival minus the rides it's a lot of people think it's a walk or
a race or you know drive to pass the baton because the reality is and it now it's
more of like
a sort of carnival community comes together and we take the fight against cancer so
like I said we celebrate cancer survivors who are there we remember those who have
lost their battle to disease and most importantly we fight back so I can Medicare
She is the volunteer Aventuras which is going to talk
a little bit about Survivor recruitment and if any of you have survivors there are
more than welcome to come out to the event so once again thank you very much.
Reason we're here is for survivors and to help celebrate more birthdays so. We
invite anybody that knows us to contact to come to the event on June fifteenth.
Can Have a nice dinner at five o'clock. Beautiful purple shirt that says I'm
a survivor and. That there is one at two thirty
after opening ceremonies and then there's one at six thirty. We. Are
survivors. That we have lost during
a beautiful ceremony that starts about nine o'clock so thank you again for this
great party. For having us and we hope to see you all there. It's
a carnival we don't have
a lot of pay still but let me part about the jewelry like you know I said the
regional can say eighty and it's the Talk of the state but on every team member the
participate worldwide there's
a picture of the jelly really. Which is kind of neat that the Julia really made
a national program so.
That's Council. Resolution of her being in agreement with Northern Illinois
University for the development of a business for
a fiber optic network within the city. Second
questions. Yes.
I carried. Regular current to twenty. Regular payroll from May
third twenty sixteen twenty thirty three million fifty three thousand eight hundred
thirty one dollars and five. It is recommended that regular payroll be approved.
Questions. And. That's when.
I. Was going to have them in.
Motion carried in contracts under award of contracts Council. Thirteen award
a contract for the city of mosquito abatement programme twenty thirteen. Thirteen
award
a contract for the two thousand and thirteen traffic signal materials purchase order
to thirty two thirteen was removed from the agenda it is recommended Council
members to thirty three to thirty one thirteen be approved.
Thank you talk to us for. Making whiskey. In the budget Thank you.
And carry amendments change orders and payments come forward thirteen approved
number one in payment number ten and final for the two thousand and twelve.
Contract. Thirty five thirteen approved for number three number nine and final for
the twenty. Contract. Thirty six thirteen approved number foreign payment estimate
number four and final for the black road for its main contract number one. Thirty
seven. Approve Change Order Number one to the contract to furnish an install
parking access and revenue system equipment at the regional transportation center
parking lot pretty tight East Marion Street consummate two thirty S.
Thirteen approved change order number to request number eight for the two thousand
and twelve electrical maintenance assistance contract. Thirty nine dollars thirteen
a protein or number five for the twenty top on American meter reading insulation
project and it's recommended Council is to thirty fourth or to thirty nine days
thirty motion so it's just
a question sure. I was unable obviously to make a committee meeting I have
a question on two thirty seven dash thirteen this is
a project for the one of the parking facilities and then I would not install any of
it yet and traditionally a change order comes as
a present for object proceeds they come across as
a paid of problems needs for extra equipment I'm. Extra twenty two or twenty three
thousand dollars what made this happen is
a twenty two thousand five member and if we do not start of the project was
a some time was originally in the bed for
a seal better public that you know let me address the project first the project has
started and just over there about four or five thirty this afternoon the equipment
has actually been installed at the two entry points to the new parking lot take
a right over there and you'll see that the gates are up the cameras are up then
a few other things that go along with that are up as well as the pay station so
that's happened. As far as the changes that precipitated the three items that need
to be changed I guess and I'm not sure if anybody has the. Handles there for us
I've set out in the bottom of the first page of the council memo the reasons for
the change or we go through those if you'd like. To read them very quickly.
It looks like the three items are dealing with issues that have arisen since the
original ward of the contract they were not included in the original bid package
one was due to
a delay on the command center piece of the project. And that we now
have information from Amtrak and Metro security forces as to what we need to help
them with their security needs and that's I think that precipitated some of the
change the delay in getting that information. OK so we didn't hear some of the new
information since we had one with
a bit opening probably about six weeks ago or four weeks ago I don't recall the
cycle on that but and these pieces were in that packet that was there was
a change the to the cabinet in the conduits. And that was not in the original
package. Deals with getting information from other agencies and three
deals with. An issue dealing with. Being able to
do the work more efficiently since they're out there and it's an add on to what we
asked them to do originally thank you but I also.
I have my own. Right
and. I can carry license and permit.
Council. Approved yesterday. When your mayor the
proclamation was previously presented to next week for final action if
you have one thing I want to make
a request for pre-concert we move up citizens to be reasoned patients
that way if we have some citizens that want to come here and let's say their piece
they don't have to leave it. Considered for two weeks from
the next council comments. Council
comments. On the trial.
I've no comment so. I'm
a country. We
the People. In I guess briefly I just reiterate something that was said in
executive session yesterday. It's been
a tough couple weeks for the council and I commend everybody who has worked through
it I commend Tom Davis for the statement he made yesterday and i do we set the
record straight and I just would probably make the appeal that we said privately if
it's members of this council there are some differences of opinion and they're I
guess have some differences but we all have to work together maybe I think you
acknowledge that today you know I look forward to the next two years working
together and try to come together as
a council and do what's best for the people Julia and I invite everyone else to
come along so they can you know. It's going to be our
first diversity committee meeting that will be held here. To hold it up here
in
a conference probably the planning conference. But
we'll find
a place to be at four thirty on the town and that'll be our preliminary me about
what we want the committee to establish and you know everyone's invited to calm and
it's about more like you know community concerns and issues that people have that
when they come to the council like they're being heard they can talk to three
counts and and can do it and go from there and so.
Anyone's interested in coming it's June town or thirty and I get to be
a preliminary meeting to discuss what we want to kind of
have a couple things. But
a few people here. Is you Carol. When in fact you are whoever meets
with them. Comments and considerations about times and so on
also I want to thank everyone for their cards or get. Some good because it'll be
two weeks or more. So I still have
a little pain but expected that Friday night. New Orleans
night downtown starts at five o'clock I know last year was a was
a great time come on down supposed to be
a nice night and on June fifteenth the jolly Historical Museum on
a rooftop party with fifties and sixties music on the rooftop at the museum you
might want to look out for that that's all. You have to buy in advance for the top
. Just environment of yes
yes sure I just think that I think. The barber
and I just. Come.
Back to the point. Me. I love my job.
And everybody. You got any comments about ever doing their job or do anything else
please come. Straight from. You know I get it.
Just
a quick question either for the mayor or for the city stamp you know this morning I
had the opportunity to listen to the mayor. This morning and you gave
a pretty. Nice snapshot of what C.C.A.
Was proposing for the city generally and how they came the Julienne and they
presented the twenty five business leaders I'm just kind of curious why the council
would have the final decision on bring in such
a facility here we're never in the afforded the opportunity to have such
a presentation but to have this business group presented and for us to have to take
a formal vote to ask them to come and present to us I just want to throw some
clarification when I have to do it tonight but I'd just like to know why we allow
that to happen and allowed for the the public to speculate and wonder and to spew
out as you call misinformation into windows when your reality in my opinion from
hearing your interview this morning you know exactly what was being proposed so I
just like some clarification on that because I got
a ton of phone calls and and went back and listened to the interview myself this
morning and I think that there needs to be addressed for the citizens of the reason
. Like. When we talk to look like they were ready to
come here so we didn't come to the curb meeting subsequently everything got pushed
. Mr Mayor and
Mr Mayor members of the council it was at a time when it looked like C.C.A.
Was going to file a petition for
a special use permit and it's not uncommon when we have projects coming forward
that have an impact on the community that we ask the developer or the proponent of
or the. Promoter of
a project to meet with stakeholders and I think this was the first opportunity
for a meeting with anybody from Joliet came in and made
a presentation that meeting was probably held about four or five months ago it was
probably winter time when that proposal and that presentation was made and I think
it was at
a time when understanding was we would probably hear from the federal government
ice as far as whether. It would be
a suitable location and I think after that meeting though it became apparent that
ice wasn't going to be weighing in in the near future it looked like they were
going to wait until there was an immigration bill introduced and debated and passed
by Congress so I think there was just by default it didn't move forward and the
need to start the process of meeting with other stakeholders including the city
council that was basically put on the back burner by. Thank you and
if I might comment on that I feel embarrassed as
a representative then because for all those months I myself myself and if not all
most of the council members up here we presented to the public that there couldn't
be
a presentation because there's nothing on the table we can't you know discuss it because
there's nothing being offered and if I misunderstood councilman MacFarlane please
correct me if question is if there was enough to present to the non-elected
business leaders. And they're considered stakeholders and yes they are stakeholders
as are each of the citizens I still don't hear the answer why it didn't come to us
first as we sat here on some of these contentious meetings when we had protestors
and I myself said on several occasions we have no information there is nothing in
writing there is nothing to be presented and then this morning after I got phone
calls and talks I was into the pod cast under the jail wall and your honor you said
the presentation was made to the card members what was in that presentation and I
don't hear the excuse of why we weren't given it first I think time I think time
just answered it well I think there was. I think when you heard me speak on it
several occasions I had indicated that. There was nothing ready for
a formal review to go through the process and that I knew it was
a controversial issue when the first call came to me about the project and I
thought that I sense that the city council was more interested in waiting until
there was
a real project before you were asked to vote on it because I knew that you needed
to have the record fully developed you needed to hear from all stakeholders all
community. Participants who have involved themselves either for the project or
against the project and bring it to
a presentation where you were asked to vote probably would have been cream at that
point because really we didn't know all the details we didn't know what the federal
government wanted to do in the Chicago area and I thought that it would be
speculative to bring it to you to ask you for. It at that point. You know I
under certainly understand I think I was talking about the same details that the
mayor may have referenced this morning. About the number of jobs being created
because that's the information that was given to me initially when I first started
meeting with representatives of the company and I think that's probably what was
said there's probably eight or nine points that go along with that and I'm sure
that's what and again I didn't hear the entire I didn't hear the the. The interview
so I'm not sure what the mayor said but I'm assuming it was job creation revenue
for the schools. You know sixty million dollars for the investment those types of
things those are details that I thought we had shared publicly but I never really
got into the details as
a boilerplate boilerplate presentation it makes on the type of facility that
they're promoting in Joliet and other locations and they have renderings of what it
would look like if it were built and I think that's what they were you know they
would have shown had they continued on that we had suggested to them that they were
they make presentations and neighborhood organizations. Community groups interested
in it rotary quantised Exchange Club those types of organizations if it were going
to move forward because it was such
a controversial issue that we wanted to make sure that their presentation was heard
by many but when it became apparent that there wasn't going to be guidance from the
federal government there was a decision made by C.C.A.
Just to pull back wait until there's
a better direction and then decide at that point whether the presentation should
read Don thank you and also to I want to because I was told about Spock as I listen
to the entire fifteen minutes. If you don't mind around with all due respect I've
just got two questions for you time I first want to thank you for last night you
stepped up and clear the air of the melodrama developed melodrama that was very
hard on you and I'm sure your family and you made it simple perfectly clear about
your want to which I said it was Tom's decision Your Honor why did you go on the
radio today and peel the scabs off that wound and make the accusation that you're
pressured by certain council members again and please point out those council
members of this point because I can no longer tolerate anybody on this council
pointing fingers and you wonder at certain members say if you say to me Say it's me
all I said was that time there's nobody that likes Joliet more than time OK
Tom has never asked for a pay raise OK he doesn't have
a job waiting with those issues why would he be leaving. That's what I said
you said he was pressured out of the fifteen minutes I didn't say it was pressured
and I don't know if I said I would use pressure out I did make
a statement like I just said does make you make good money he does he's done
a lot of things including pulling the side of
a seventeen million dollar deficit and he does not have
a job waiting with all those things in mind why would he believe it can I ask
a general favor of everybody up or that all good conscience let's let this go to
bed once and for all for the sake of time thing on us in the family he clarified it
there is no question public would be asked why he decided to resign he explained
himself last night and everything past that needs to be private for time thing out
of. There you did this morning I was asked questions they asked me to be honored he
asked questions and I give my opinion. Goes back to
radio the day after close session. Asked me if my belief that.
Being forced out and I thought for
a minute and I told my thought he was and I thought I could get my own opinion and
I think I would title my own opinion other council members on this diocese give
their. Opinions on things and I that's my opinion I did mention the missed meanings
and you know I think there are some things that I'm not going to say here reach
that confidentiality but the night before Tom told us that somebody shoes were and
. That's all I'm going to say I'd like to state is that what happened.
At the movie you know I think. Said it well but I don't know really nobody was
listening. To
a journal and. I.